The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-02-16

To practice forbearance sweetly;
To scatter kind words and loving Deeds
Still trusting in God completely.
A Notable TIT
A rominent business man of st. Louis,
who had lately returned from New
York, tells the following story:
Some time since, a month or so ago,
Col. Ingersoll was thrown Accidentally
into the society of Henry Ward Beecher.
There were four or five gentlemen pres.
ent, all of whom were prominent in the
world of brains. A variety of topics
were discussed with decided brilliancy,
but no allusion made to rsligion. The
distinguished infdel was, of course, too
polite to introduce the subject himself,
but one of the party, finally desiring to
see tilt between Bob and Beecher,
made playful remark about Col. Inger .
soils idiosyncracy, as he termed it. The
Colonel at once defended his views in
his usual rapt rhetoric; in fact, he waxed
eloquent. He was replied to by several
gentlemen in very effective repartee.
Contrary to the expectation of all, Mr..
Beecher remained an abstracted listener,
and said not word. The gentleman
who introduced the topic, with the hope
that Mr.. Beeeher would answer Col. In
gersoll, at last remarked:
Mr.. Bcecher have you nothing to say
on this question:"
The old man slowly lifted himself from
his attitude and replied:
Nothing; in fact if you will excuse
me for changing tho conversation, I will
say that while you gentlemen were talk
ing my mind was bent upon most de-
plorable spectacle which I witnessed to-
day."
"What was iti" at once inquired In
gersoll, who, notwithstanding his pc
culiar views of the hereafter, is noted
for his kindness of heart. ''Why," said
Mr.. Beecher, ''as was walking down
town to-day, Isaw poor, lame man,
with crutches, slowly and carefully pick
ing bis way through cesspo"l of mud,
in the endcavor to cross the street. He
had just reached the middle of the filth
when big, burly rufian, himself all be
spattered, rushed up to him, and, jerk
ing the crutches from under the unfortu-
nate man, left him sprawling and help
less in the pool of liquid dirt, which en-
quilted him."
"What brute he wasp they all
echoed.
"Yes, said the old man, rising from
his chair and brushing back his long
white hair, while his eyes glittered with
their old time fire. as he bent them on
Colonel Ingersoll, Eyes, Colonel 1nger-
soil, you are that man. The human soul
is lame, but christianity gives it crutches
to enable it to pass across the pathway
of life. 1t is your teachings that knock
these crutches from under it, and leave
it a helpless and rudderless wreck in
the Slough of Despond. If robbing the
human soul of its only support on this
earth-religion--be your profession, why
ply it to your hearts content. 1t re-
quires an architect to erect q building;
any incendiary may reduce it to ashes. "
The old man sat down. and silence
brooded over the scene. Colonel Ingcr-
soil found that he had a master in his
own power of illustration, and said
nothing. The company took their hats
and separated.
If we do not 60 by the door of grace,
We shall not find the door of the kingdo ON
of glory.
Slippery places may fling up the heels
of great giants, and little temptations
may overthrow well-grown Christians.
lice.
Of all the means placed by Providence
within our reach whereby we may lead
souls to Him, there is one more blessed
than all the others-intercessorv prayer.
In speaking of the spirit, Christ use!
the simile of the wind. You know the
wind always blows towards vacuum.
If we can make vacuum in our heart:
the Holy Spirit will fill them. Il A. j.
Gordon.
Nothing can be truly termed my own
But what made my own by using well
Those deeds Of charity which we have done
Shall stay forever with us; and that wealth
Which we have so bestowed we only keep,
The other is not ours.
Middleton.
The Law and Order League, of New
ark, New Jersey, has been lately rein
forced by the addition to its member
ship of many leading citizens. The as
sociated liquor dealers of the city have
also been perfecting their Organization
in view of the war that seems likely tt
he renewed against the saloons.
During 1885 there were 17,SO4 persons
arrested in New York city for intoxica